Memorial Hermann Heart & Vascular Institute – TMC Celebrates Grand Opening
|
Celebrating the ribbon cutting, from left, are: Dr. Oscar Rosales; Roberto Servitje, a grateful patient of Rosales; Gerald Bennett, chairman of the Memorial Hermann Healthcare System; Juanita Romans, CEO of Memorial Hermann-TMC Campus; Dan Wolterman, president and CEO; and Marshall Heins, chief facility services officer. |
Medical School physicians were among more than 350 guests who celebrated the opening of the Memorial Hermann Heart & Vascular Institute – Texas Medical Center Feb. 28.
The freestanding facility at the corner of Fannin and MacGregor houses 147 patient beds, a cardiology care unit, six cardiac catheterization and electrophysiology labs, and six operating rooms. It also includes a chest pain center, cardiac rehabilitation, and other programs and facilities.
UT cardiologists, cardiovascular surgeons and other clinicians are expected to begin seeing patients at the 230,000 square-foot institute in mid-March.
“Beyond the bricks and mortar, I am most proud of the compassion, quality outcomes and exceptional patient care that will take place inside these walls,” said Erin Asprec, chief executive officer of Memorial Hermann Heart & Vascular Institute – TMC. “We are fortunate to have a tremendous team of health care professionals who are among the best in the nation. They are steadfast in their dedication to providing innovative solutions in cardiovascular care, and I am so proud to celebrate with them this evening.”
During the grand opening, Memorial Hermann showed a video that featured more than a half-dozen UT physicians and highlighted innovations in clinical care and research.
“Our institute is home to some of the nation’s top minds, including world-renowned cardiologists, cardiovascular surgeons, and geneticists,” said Juanita Romans, chief executive officer of Memorial Hermann – Texas Medical Center. “And our heart and vascular program is the only one in Texas to be named one of the nation’s 100 best for three years in a row by Thomson – the leading organization that benchmarks health care quality.”
Dr. David McPherson, professor and director of the Division of Cardiology and chief of cardiology at Memorial Hermann Heart & Vascular Institute – TMC, said the new institute provides patients a centralized location for diagnosis and treatment of heart disease.
“It also allows access to a number of clinical trials so patients can actually look at many leading-edge options for the treatment of their heart disease,” McPherson said.
-M. Raine
UT Physicians opens new weight management clinic
UT Physicians Weight Management clinic, located in the UT Professional Building Suite 600, is committed to helping patients lose weight gradually and safely to improve health and quality of life.
Led by Drs. Kevin Hwang and Thomas Lux, the team also includes Dr. Marilyn Edwards, registered dietician, and fitness professional Rhonda Leaverton.
The six-month comprehensive program starts with an initial questionnaire and medical assessment. One-on-one counseling is provided and scientifically-based principles and strategies are applied to maximize results.
For information and appointments, call UT Weight Management at 832.325.7699 or visit www.UTweight.com.
HGEC offers geriatric education opportunity
The Houston Geriatric Education Center (HGEC) is pleased to offer a hybrid program of interactive, experiential, didactic, and online education opportunity for residents nurse practitioner students, social work interns, and post-doctoral fellows.
The goal of the HGEC is to teach issues of safety, medical care, economic and social support, and disaster preparedness for all vulnerable older adults, including those in medically underserved communities. There are four parts to this training. Students are already participating in an interdisciplinary case competition. But, residents, nurse practitioner students, social work interns, and post-doctoral fellows can also participate in this hybrid program. This year’s training focus centers on the recognition and intervention of elder mistreatment and includes both a historical and ethical perspective on elder mistreatment.
This course is offered on a monthly rotational basis. Students may enroll at any time and have three months in which to complete all activities. Students completing the course will receive a certificate of completion as well as a letter to the Dean of their respective school to be placed in their file.
This is one of 48 Geriatric Education Centers in the United States funded through the Health Resources and Services Administration of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. For additional information, please contact Laura L. Prati, LMSW, M.Ed., project coordinator, by phone at 713.873.4687 or by e-mail at Laura.Prati@uth.tmc.edu for additional information.
Medical School graduates celebrate 10-35 year reunions
Please install Flash® and turn on Javascript.
Medical School graduates from the classes of 1973, 1978, 1983, 1988, and 1998 met old and new friends at UT-Houston Alumni ’08 Homecoming and Reunion the weekend of Feb. 29. This marked the first opportunity for a 35th class reunion.
Alumni from across the country attended the three-day event, which included class dinners, tours of the Medical School, a continuing medical education course from Dr. Eugene Boisaubin, and the annual meeting of the Alumni Association.
The event’s highlights included the Saturday evening dinner and reception at Trevisio Restaurant and the unveiling of the newest distinguished alumnus plaque for Dr. Daniel Hale, ’77.
“Reunion went very well,” said Resa Ott, director of alumni relations. “Dr. Hale told a warm, wonderful story about his mentor in Medical School.”
New to the reunion weekend this year were tours of the Medical School’s new six-story replacement facility and an option for families to visit the zoo.
At the reunion, Victoria Regan, ’87, president of the Alumni Association, announced a new initiative aimed at alumni philanthropy – the 1000 by 500 campaign for scholarships, which seeks 1,000 donations of $500. The fund-raising program is open to friends and faculty members of the Medical School as well. Eight previous recipients of the Alumni Association’s scholarships attended the homecoming festivities, telling the alumni what a difference a scholarship can make.
“Scholarships from our alumni send the message that the alumni care and that we have a tradition of giving,” Ott said.
First registrar Betty Murphy attended the homecoming events, and received a standing ovation for her work. Former alumni director Sondra Ives participated in the reunion dinner, along with guest speakers Regan, Hale, Dean Giuseppe Colasurdo, and Dr. Henry Strobel.
-D. Brown
|
